Heard at Mass tonight

I think we need to work on whispering this week.

Madeleine was sitting on my mom's lap at mass.

Grandma: Madeleine, say 'Thanks be to God."
Madeleine: Thanks Peter God. (looks really confused) Who's Peter GOD?
Grandma, trying to stifle her giggles: Thanks BE to God.
Madeleine, looking even more confused: Thanks Beeda God?
Grandma, laughing out loud now: No. Thanks. Be. To. God.
Madeleine just looks at Grandma like she's crazy.

A few minutes later, Madeleine starts pulling on the neckline of Grandma's shirt.

Grandma: Don't do that.
Madeleine: WHY?
Grandma whispers: Grandma's underwear is in there.
Madeleine looking more confused than ever: Grandma, how is your UNDERWEAR in your SHIRT? (Remember the kid doesn't know how to whisper, and there's a seminarian sitting directly behind us.)
Grandma, laughing, whispers something into Madeleine's ear.
Madeleine, in a totally normal (loud) voice: What's a BRA?
Grandma: You can ask Mommy later.

Breath of fresh air

You all know my saga of people commenting on my relatively small family size every. time. we go out in public. Last Sunday we were at our local outdoor mall getting ice cream. We were sitting outside and the kids were enjoying their cones. They were messy but relatively well behaved, for them anyway. A man walked by with his wife and two daughters, staring at us. Like obviously staring, head turned and his eyes followed us as he walked past. Then he said, "Wow. Two was PUH-LENTY for us!" I totally was not expecting that so I just stared for a second, then he was gone, calling out over his shoulder, "But hey, what's one more" in a sarcastic voice. I do NOT get it.

Today Ken got home a little early and we hit our local hangout, Barnes and Nobles. John Paul is very popular over there. His favorite barista picked him up and took him behind the counter and let him help make our drinks! We were reading our books and the kids were playing games, when an older man with a long ponytail approached us. I braced myself for the usual comments, but instead he said, "3! You're just getting started, right?" I smiled and said, "Yep, that's right!" Then he said, "I have 10, and this is my youngest."

He proceeded to tell us how it was great and interesting raising 10 kids. His youngest daughter, about 10, played with Leo and made him smile and laugh. It was totally refreshing. God bless him!

Exactly.

M: Can I go outside?
Me: no I can't go with you right now. Plus its raining.
M: why noooooot?
Me: why do you think?
M: I don't Think.

That sums up the reason She can't go outside.

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Kid cracks me up

Madeleine, to Leo (1000x/day): I'm your big sister!

John Paul: No I'M the big sister. You're the big brother.

Madeleine: No, I'M the big sister, you're the big brother.

John Paul: No! You're the big brother, and I'm the big bad wolf!

First taste

While eating lunch poolside at mom and dad's house, Leo practically grabbed a handful of food off my plate and shoved it in his mouth. So, I decided to let him have a little taste of cantaloupe. He LOVED it. He kept grabbing my hand and pulling it back to his mouth. He was able to take some bites and swallow them no problem! I don't plan on really starting him on solid foods quite yet, but he's old enough to try a few things.



Oh and he slept 11.5 hours last night! Thrilled does not begin to describe how I feel about this!

Oh Look!

I have 3 kids :)

I have been reading A Holy Experience since her reflections during Advent. Yesterday I read this post, and was inspired. I got an app on my phone that has the mass readings of the day, the bible, tons of prayers, Liturgy of the Hours, etc. So during breakfast, when I have a captive audience and Leo is usually already taking his morning nap, we started doing a Bible Story and prayer. So far I've read the Gospel of the day and said the family prayer. Today Madeleine asked for another prayer so I found Mother Teresa's Daily Prayer, which I love.

DEAR JESUS, help me to spread Thy fragrance everywhere I go. Flood my soul with Thy spirit and love. Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly that all my life may only be a radiance of Thine. Shine through me and be so in me that every soul I come in contact with may feel Thy presence in my soul. Let them look up and see no longer me but only Jesus. Stay with me and then I shall begin to shine as you shine, so to shine as to be a light to others.


They loved it! I'm definitely going to keep doing this.

Also, Madeleine completed Level 1 of her reading program today. She was really excited and can't wait to start Level 2 tomorrow. I showed her the very first lesson and the lesson she did today, and she was thrilled to see how much she has learned. She is also learning how to write her numbers and tell time. The kid loves worksheets! We are getting into the groove now and loving it. Who needs summer vacation?? (Especially when school takes less than an hour and is one of our favorite parts of the day!)

Thank you Hilary for fixing my header, and Julie for taking the pictures!

Big boy haircut

Before and after. I didn't butcher it this time! He loved the clippers, and when I turned them off he said, "how bout one more time?"

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5 Months

My sweet boy was 5 months old, oh, 5 days ago. And I realized I have neglected to post his 4 month stats on here, and since this is the only place they are stored, he was 13.75 lbs and 25.5 inches, at about 4.5 months. I'm pretty sure he's around 15 lbs now. He seems HUGE to me!

First time in the backyard swing. He likes it! He doesn't, however, enjoy the exersaucer.

I love love love his curls.

See what I mean about him looking huge? This month we broke him of the swaddle, and he transitioned beautifully. Now he sleeps all sprawled out. He still wakes up once (on a really good night) but mostly twice for a bottle.

AND, I think he's looking at his guardian angel here.

He is such a smiley baby. He smiles at everyone and is almost always in a good mood. He has rolled over twice but I think they were accidents! (Belly to back) He got a new booster seat/high chair and loves to hang out in the kitchen with me while I'm cooking. He is going to bed great for naps and nighttime. I put him down awake and he puts himself to sleep (usually.) He has still had nothing but breastmilk - and I'm not planning on starting him on solid foods until he really needs it! He has an appointment with the surgeon sometime in June so I am going to ask for tips on feeding him. He says we can do everything the same as with the other two, but I kinda doubt it's gonna be that easy. We'll see, maybe he'll surprise us.

Rocking

Cleaning and scrubbing can wait til tomorrow, for babies grow up we've learned to our sorrow. So quiet down cobwebs, dust go to sleep, I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.

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Madeleine reading to Leo

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Oh. My.

M: Mommy, what does predicament mean?
Me: Some kind of problem or situation that happens to someone. Where did you hear that word?
M: I read it in my Pooh Bear book.
Me: What was the predicament?
M: Pooh Bear was stuck in Rabbit's hole and couldn't get out because his tummy was full of honey.

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My favorite sound in the world

Kinda reminds me of another kid around here.

A lesson for Leo (and me)

Madeleine loves to lay with Baby Leo in our bed when I'm getting ready in the morning. She brings a stack of books to read to him. This morning, I walked in to find her reading Graceful Parenting, Simple Advice for Raising a Gentle and Loving Child to him. She was reading in a totally animated voice like you would read a book to a baby, "Yelling doesn't work. You don't need to yell to get your point across. Don't yell at your children and don't yell in front of your children. Don't yell at their brothers and sisters, and don't yell at your husband, wife, relatives or friends. Children copy what they see around them. If you don't yell and people around them don't yell, your children will not learn to yell. If you feel like yelling, stop for a moment and get control of yourself. If you need to leave to do this, excuse yourself from any children present before you yell."